A Viewpoint Historical Study On "Safeguard The Rich" In Song Dynasty

The viewpoint of “Safeguard the rich”,a newborn view came up with the rise of the rich civilian class during Song dynasty.The rich civilians played an important role after they won their wealth.In consideration the new rules of the class,the government and a part of social elites realized the interests of the rich persons should be respected and any attempts aiming to the deterioration should be condemned.Actually views about “safeguard the rich” could be date from Tang dynasty.In Song dynasty,many intellectual elites,Li Gou,Sima Guang,Su Shi,Chen Liang,Ye Shi etc.believed that the rich civilians were the middle class of the society,so the viewpoint of “safeguard the rich” could be basic rules of the state and local government.They also agreed that the government should rich its subjects,so it could rich the government in return.Though,all these elites all agreed on the viewpoint of “Safeguard the rich ”,there still has difference among them: some focused on the protection of the less riches;some intended to the advantages of the more riches.Also there exites some differences on the policy to the viewpoint of “Safeguard the rich ” between the Northern Song and the Southern Song.Though,there were many differences among these elites,all this proposal aimed to promote the interests of the government.Because,more attention had been paid on the interests of the rich civilians,the interests of the poor and the government has been ignored.Date from Song dynasty,there are many special background and reason about the viewpoint of “Safeguard the rich”.Firstly,the adjustment of tax policy put more burdens on the rich civilians.Their interest has been ignored;Secondly,the flourish of the culture and economy changed people's view on commerce.The commerce were no longer deemed as the last important domain,the rich civilians also the rich got more respects from the society.The Chinese Mercantilism movement,which greatly enriched thoughts of people who wanted to be the safeguard to the rich civilians,it was greatly contributed to the Protection on the rich civilians.In return,the rise of the rich civilians had a great contribution to the government.Protections of the rich civilians not only changed the views of Song dynasty on wealth,but also led a gradually attitudes transition to the rich civilians in later dynasties,such as Yuan,Ming and Qing dynasty.